xíngróngcí: 形容词 - Adjective

• Keywords: adjective in Chinese, Chinese adjectives, how to use adjectives in Chinese, descriptive words Chinese, Chinese grammar adjective, xingrongci, 形容词, stative verbs Chinese, using 很 hěn in Chinese
• Summary: Learn everything about the 形容词 (xíngróngcí), the Chinese word for “adjective.” This guide explains how Chinese adjectives differ from English ones, focusing on the crucial role of adverbs like 很 (hěn) and how adjectives can act as verbs. Discover core grammar patterns, common mistakes to avoid (like overusing 是 shì), and see practical examples to make your descriptions in Mandarin more natural and accurate.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xíngróngcí
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3 (Concept)
• Concise Definition: The Chinese grammatical term for “adjective,” a word used to describe the qualities or states of a noun.
• In a Nutshell: 形容词 (xíngróngcí) are the “coloring words” of Mandarin Chinese. They describe nouns, just like in English (e.g., “a big apple,” “a happy person”). However, they have a special superpower in Chinese: they can often stand alone as the predicate of a sentence, acting like a “stative verb” without needing a verb like “to be.” Understanding this concept is a major breakthrough for beginner learners.

• 形 (xíng): This character means “form,” “shape,” or “to describe.” It paints a picture of giving form or shape to something with words.
• 容 (róng): This character means “appearance” or “look.” It relates to the outward look or features of something.
• 词 (cí): This character simply means “word” or “term.”
• Combined Meaning: Together, 形容词 (xíngróngcí) literally translates to “shape-appearance word.” This is a beautifully logical name, as an adjective is a word used to describe the shape, form, and appearance of things.

While “adjective” is a universal grammatical concept, the way a 形容词 functions reveals something about the structure of the Chinese language. Unlike English, where you must say “He is tall,” Chinese expresses this state more directly: 他很高 (Tā hěn gāo), which literally is “He very tall.” This structure, where the adjective acts as the main predicate, is often called a “stative verb.” It reflects a linguistic preference for describing states of being directly rather than connecting a subject to a quality with a copula (like “is/am/are”). This can make Chinese sentences feel more efficient and concise. The “Western” concept of needing a linking verb is absent in these basic descriptive sentences. Mastering this difference is key to moving beyond word-for-word translation and starting to “think in Chinese.” The adverb used before the adjective (e.g., 很 hěn, 非常 fēicháng, 太 tài) is also culturally significant, as it's the primary way to express the degree and intensity of a description, which is crucial for conveying politeness, enthusiasm, or understatement in conversation.

形容词 are used in several key patterns. Understanding these will cover 90% of situations.

This is the most common and important pattern. The structure is: Subject + Adverb + 形容词. The adverb 很 (hěn), while meaning “very,” often acts as a neutral “filler” to make the sentence grammatically complete and sound natural. Without it, the sentence often implies a comparison.

• Correct: 今天天气很好。 (Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.) - The weather is good today. (A simple statement of fact)
• Implies Comparison: 今天天气好。 (Jīntiān tiānqì hǎo.) - The weather is good today (unlike yesterday, which was bad).

This is when the adjective comes before the noun it describes, just like in English. The particle 的 (de) is almost always required to link them. The structure is: 形容词 + 的 + Noun.

• Example: 一个漂亮的女孩 (yī gè piàoliang de nǚhái) - A beautiful girl.
• Example: 红色的汽车 (hóngsè de qìchē) - A red car.
• Exception: The 的 (de) can sometimes be omitted with single-syllable adjectives and nouns that have a close, inherent relationship (e.g., 好朋友 hǎo péngyou - good friend; 新衣服 xīn yīfu - new clothes).

Adjectives can be reduplicated to add emphasis, vividness, or a sense of affection.

• AA Pattern: 高高的 (gāogāo de) - tallish, nice and tall
• AABB Pattern: 高高兴兴 (gāogāoxìngxìng) - happily, joyfully

• Example 1:
  • 她的头发很长。
  • Pinyin: Tā de tóufa hěn cháng.
  • English: Her hair is long.
  • Analysis: This is a classic “Subject + 很 + Adjective” sentence. Here, 很 (hěn) is a grammatical placeholder and doesn't necessarily mean “very.”
• Example 2:
  • 这是一部有意思的电影。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī bù yǒuyìsi de diànyǐng.
  • English: This is an interesting movie.
  • Analysis: The adjective 有意思 (yǒuyìsi) is modifying the noun 电影 (diànyǐng), so the particle 的 (de) is required to connect them.
• Example 3:
  • 我今天不忙。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān bù máng.
  • English: I am not busy today.
  • Analysis: To negate an adjectival predicate, you use 不 (bù). Notice that 很 (hěn) is not used in negative sentences.
• Example 4:
  • 这件衣服贵不贵？
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yīfu guì bu guì?
  • English: Is this piece of clothing expensive?
  • Analysis: This is the “A-not-A” question form, a common way to ask a yes/no question with an adjective. It's equivalent to saying 这件衣服贵吗? (Zhè jiàn yīfu guì ma?).
• Example 5:
  • 哥哥高，弟弟矮。
  • Pinyin: Gēge gāo, dìdi ǎi.
  • English: The older brother is tall, the younger brother is short.
  • Analysis: Here, no adverb (like 很) is used because the sentence is making an explicit comparison between two things. This is a key exception to the “always use 很” rule.
• Example 6:
  • 他跑得很快。
  • Pinyin: Tā pǎo de hěn kuài.
  • English: He runs very fast.
  • Analysis: This shows an adjective used as a complement of degree. It describes how the action (跑 pǎo) is performed. The structure is “Verb + 得 + Adverb + Adjective.”
• Example 7:
  • 请说慢一点儿。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎnr.
  • English: Please speak a little slower.
  • Analysis: Adjectives are often used with 一点儿 (yīdiǎnr) to mean “a little more…” This is a polite way to make a request.
• Example 8:
  • 孩子们高高兴兴地去上学了。
  • Pinyin: Háizimen gāogāoxìngxìng de qù shàngxué le.
  • English: The children went to school happily.
  • Analysis: This shows adjective reduplication (AABB form). It creates a vivid image of the children's joyful state. The particle 地 (de) is used to turn the adjective into an adverb describing the verb.
• Example 9:
  • 这个西瓜又大又甜。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xīguā yòu dà yòu tián.
  • English: This watermelon is both big and sweet.
  • Analysis: The “又 (yòu)… 又 (yòu)…” structure is used to link two adjectives that describe the same noun, indicating that both qualities exist simultaneously.
• Example 10:
  • 上海比北京更现代。
  • Pinyin: Shànghǎi bǐ Běijīng gèng xiàndài.
  • English: Shanghai is more modern than Beijing.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how adjectives are used in a comparative sentence with 比 (bǐ). The adverb 更 (gèng) means “even more” or “-er”.

• Mistake 1: Using 是 (shì) with Adjectives.
  • English speakers constantly want to use 是 (shì) like “is/am/are.”
  • Incorrect: `*`我是很高。 (Wǒ shì hěn gāo.)
  • Correct: 我很高。 (Wǒ hěn gāo.)
  • Reason: In Chinese, the adjective itself can function as the predicate. Adding 是 is redundant and grammatically incorrect in most cases. (The exception is when using 是 for emphasis or contradiction, e.g., “他是高，但是…” - “He IS tall, but…”).
• Mistake 2: Forgetting 很 (hěn) in Simple Statements.
  • As mentioned, omitting 很 often implies a comparison. If you just want to state a fact, use 很.
  • Sounds like a comparison: 我妈妈漂亮。(Wǒ māma piàoliang.) - “My mom is the pretty one (unlike someone else).”
  • Correct statement: 我妈妈很漂亮。(Wǒ māma hěn piàoliang.) - “My mom is pretty.”
• Mistake 3: Forgetting 的 (de) between a multi-syllable adjective and a noun.
  • While you can say 好人 (hǎo rén), you cannot say `*`漂亮人 (piàoliang rén).
  • Incorrect: `*`一个聪明学生 (yī gè cōngming xuéshēng)
  • Correct: 一个聪明的学生 (yī gè cōngming de xuéshēng)
  • Rule of Thumb: If the adjective has two or more syllables, you almost always need to add 的 before the noun.

• 名词 (míngcí) - Noun. The part of speech that a 形容词 describes.
• 副词 (fùcí) - Adverb. The part of speech that modifies a 形容词, such as 很 (hěn), 非常 (fēicháng), and 太 (tài).
• 动词 (dòngcí) - Verb. In Chinese, 形容词 often behave like “stative verbs,” making the distinction important.
• 的 (de) - The essential structural particle used to connect a 形容词 to a noun.
• 很 (hěn) - The most common 副词 (adverb) used with adjectival predicates, often acting as a grammatical filler.
• 比较 (bǐjiào) - To compare; comparison. A core grammar structure that heavily features adjectives (e.g., A 比 B + Adjective).
• 反义词 (fǎnyìcí) - Antonym. Pairs of opposing adjectives like 大/小 (dà/xiǎo - big/small) or 好/坏 (hǎo/huài - good/bad).
• 状态补语 (zhuàngtài bǔyǔ) - Complement of state. The grammatical term for when an adjective describes the result or state of a verb, using the particle 得 (de), as in 跑得快 (pǎo de kuài).